The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the premature redemption of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) under the 2019-20 Series-II, issued on July 16, 2019.
The redemption will be permitted tomorrow, January
16, 2026, and the price has been fixed at Rs 14,092 per unit, which is a 309.29% gain over the issue price of Rs 3,443. This does not include the 2.5% annual interest income earned during the holding period.
There was also a discount of Rs 50 on online payment at the time of the SGB issuance. The gain will be 315.32% based on the issue price of Rs 3,393 after the discount.
“In terms of GOI notification F.No.4(7)-B(W&M)/2019 dated May 30, 2019 (SGB 2019-20 Series-II-Issue date July 16, 2019) on Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme, premature redemption of Gold Bond may be permitted after fifth year from the date of issue of such Gold Bond on the date on which interest is payable. Accordingly, the next due date of premature redemption of the above tranche shall be on January 16, 2026,” the RBI said in a statement dated January 14, 2026.
The redemption price has been calculated on the basis of the simple average of closing gold prices published by the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) for the three business days – January 12, January 13, and January 14, 2025.
According to the SGB scheme, the gold bonds shall be repayable on the expiration of eight years from the date of the issue of the bonds. However, premature redemption of the bonds may be permitted after the fifth year from the date of issue of bonds and such repayments will be made on the next interest payment date.
Tax Treatment of Sovereign Gold Bonds
The interest on the SGBs is taxable as per the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (Section 43 of 1961). The capital gains tax arising on redemption of these bonds to an individual is exempted. The indexation benefits will be provided to long-term capital gains arising to any person on the transfer of the bonds.
Interest Rate On SGBs
Interest on the gold bonds, at an annual fixed rate of 2.5%, is credited semi-annually to the bank account of the investors.
What Is The Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme?
The Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) Scheme was launched by the Government of India in November 2015 as an alternative to owning physical gold. Issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on behalf of the Centre, these bonds were denominated in grams of gold and offered investors the dual benefit of earning a fixed annual interest (2.5% on the issue price) along with capital appreciation linked to gold prices. The scheme aimed to reduce India’s dependence on imported physical gold, curb hoarding, and channel household savings into financial assets.
Why Was The SGB Scheme Discontinued?
The government discontinued fresh issuances of SGBs in October 2023, citing that the scheme had largely achieved its objectives and that the cost of managing and servicing the bonds had grown significantly. Another key factor was the availability of other gold investment avenues such as Gold ETFs and digital gold, which reduced the need for periodic SGB issuances. However, existing bonds remain valid, and investors can hold them until maturity or opt for premature redemption as per the scheme’s rules.
